David n



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D. N; KRATZER.

FLOOD GATE.

No. 425,179. Patnted Apr. 8, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID N. KRATZER, OF MOUNT OREB, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JAMES G. SMITH, OF SAME PLACE.

FLOOD-GATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,179, dated April 8, 1890. Application filed January 17, 1888- Serial l l0.261,021. (N0 model.)

ing at Mount Oreb, in the county of Brown and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Flood-Gates, of which the following is a specification, refer- .ence being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention comprises a specific construction of flood-gate whereby the pickets or stakes of the same are automatically maintained in an erect position when there is little or no water in the run or creek; but when the Water rises sufflciently said pickets incline in the direction of the current and between the main posts of the gate. This result is accomplished by securing the pickets to a float-log having a fiat face on its downstream side, which log is coupled to the gateposts by eyebolts, and said posts are free from any cross-beam or other barrier that would obstruct the current of water, as hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out in the claim.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of my improved flood-gate in its normal position. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation showing the gate in the same position as in the preceding illustration. Fig. 3 is an elevation showing the position the gate automatically assumes during high water.

Referring to Fig. 1, A represents the bed of a run, stream, or creek, and B B are the opposite banks of the same, short vertical posts O Obeing erected against said banks, which posts are free from any cross-beam or other barrier that would interfere with the current of water. Furthermore, each post is bored near its upper end, as seen at c in Fig. 2, to admit horizontal eyebolts D D, to the upstream ends of which other eyebolts d d are jointed, the latter bolts 61 d serving to support the float-log E. This log is sufliciently 5 long to extend across the stream, and is usually cylindrical, except where a fiat face 6 is formed to bear against the sides of the posts,

and thus maintain the pickets or stakes F in an erect position. These pickets or stakes are secured to the float-log in the usual manner.

From the above description it is evident the log E is freely suspended from the eyebolts D D, and as the flat face 6 of said log is in contact with the upstream sides of posts O C, the pickets or stakes F are normally vertical and prevent stock wandering along the dry run; but when the rainy season sets in and the stream is bankfull the logE floats upon the water, as seen in Fig. 3. Reference to this illustration shows that the upper portion of the log is somewhat above the level of the gate-posts O C, while the pickets F are now inclined downstream, because there is no crossbeam or other barrier connecting the top of these posts. Consequently said log serves as a fender that prevents drift from accumulating upon' the posts and tearing away the gate. Furthermore, it will be noticed that the couplings D d D d are of such a character and are so applied as to prevent the log resting directly upon the posts, and on this account said log naturally falls back and assumes its normal place against the sides of the posts when the water subsides.

I claim as my invention The combination, in a flood-gate, of the posts O O, unconnected by .a cross-beam, the float-log E, armed with pickets F, and the .eyebolts d d, secured to the log and coupled to companion bolts D D ,attached near the upper ends of posts '0 O, whereby in case of a flood said log is maintained above said posts, but prevented from lodging on them, and the pickets caused to assume an inclined position in the direction of the current of water, all as herein described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

DAVID N. KRATZER. \Vitnesses:

J AMEs H. LAYMAN, SAML. S. CARPENTER. 

